Rajasthan as the western-most state of India, bordering neighbouring Pakistan, reminisces an eternal sweep of fine-grained golden tracts of sand and more sand, sometimes in the shape of dunes. In short, Rajasthan is an idyllic combination, melding the reality with the ancient, the fantasy with the present. The incomparable assortment of ancient palaces, havelis, traverses of desert areas, the telling instances of the pre-historical cries of the legendary princesses retold in contemporary mouths, or the sudden jerk back to modern world that still upholds its antiquity, Rajasthan perhaps is best captured with all these in the `gold-reflected` city of Jaisalmer. Once a sleepy and quiet desert-dominated city, Jaisalmer has long since transformed itself into a ground-breaking tourist destination of India. Situated amidst the charming and scenic Thar Desert, the Jaisalmer city commands prime position amongst the tourist attractions scattered all over the desert land of Rajasthan. Such has been Jaisalmer city`s magical magnetism that it is religiously revered both by Indians as well as foreign visitors.

Happily and in an admirable manner nicknamed "The Golden City", the Jaisalmer town stands on a ridge of yellowish sandstone, coronated by a fort, which holds within the palace and a bunch of ornately elaborated Jain temples. This might perhaps be the reason for which this Rajasthani city is always a top chosen region in a touring itinerary, containing an ideal mish-mash of ethnic and modern-day elements. According to the 2001 India census, Jaisalmer possessed a population numbering 58,286.

Like several other cities of Rajasthan, as one begins to tour Jaisalmer, it is an established and validated point that one will discover diverse facets of Jaisalmer while exploring this wonderful city. Serving as a city located in the extreme peripheries of India, precisely sharing its border areas with Pakistan, Jaisalmer has been adequately provided with Indian Armed Forces security, keeping strict vigil for unremitting day and nights. Indian Army and Indian Air Force have their established as well as hide-out bases in this desert city, that can sometimes pose a problem in summer times, with its exceedingly desiccated climate. One dark domain that can be stated here in this regard about Jaisalmer in Rajasthan, is its near absence of water and water-resourcing elements like deep-well, deep tube-well or presence of abundance of tap water. Predominately a rural habitation, this Rajasthani city very often bears touching and poignant images of women and children balancing pitchers atop their heads and traversing vast tracts of land, only to be fed with the `life-sustainer`.

Then again, setting aside this very sombre sphere of daily life, Jaisalmer is a heavenly storehouse of pre-historic and ancient models of Indian history, appearing almost living and shining bright still today. In fact, there exists umpteen historical monuments scattered all over the city, but the Jaisalmer Fort is one edifice that will immediately command one`s instant attention. Chiselled out from out-and-out sandstone and yellow limestone and locally known as Sonar Quila (the Fort that looks gold), the Jaisalmer Fort is a near-eclipsing structure amidst sand and even more dazzling sand. The Jaisalmer city is also known for its old mansions, better known as `Havelis`. Amongst umpteen of choices, specialties like Salim ji ki haveli and Nathmal ji ki haveli as the most striking, almost always arresting a tourer`s captivating awareness. There however exists other monuments too, which are equally important because of their distinct and individual architectural magnificence and splendour. The incorporation of ancient and the medieval era architecture is bound to beguile one`s fancy.

Besides serving as an all-season wonder for visitor`s paradise, the Jaisalmer city is a high-flying educational as well as cultural core in the region. This Rajasthani city and town regularly showcases its vibrant cultural aspects of Rajasthan, which are generally held with prior appointment, that are further represented by the exceedingly skilled tribal dancers or singers, showcasing their profound striking intelligence. Amongst others, it includes folk dances as well as semi classical and folk musical genres. The city is easily accessible, and adding to its further tour-friendly assistance, its populace is pretty warm and affectionate. In spite of unsympathetic living conditions, Rajasthani people are known for their warm generosity the world over. So, travelling to Jaisalmer and enjoying its dreamy beauty can best be framed in its traditional rhetoric of `padharo mahare desh` (welcome to our lands).